News, opinion and humor from Somerville, Mass.

SCAT launching new Somerville news program next week

2013 October 22

by Dan Atkinson

As informative and entertaining as the Somerville Journal is, it does have a drawback — we’re not on TV. But if you’re looking for televised local news coverage, SCAT has you covered. Next Tuesday, Oct. 29, the channel is kicking off Somerville Neighborhood News, the city’s first local TV news program, at 7 p.m. on Channel 3 and online at http://www.scatvsomerville.org/

The biweekly half-hour program will look at all things Somerville, with reporters going out in the field for interviews and digging up stories on local politics, arts and other issues. Some brief sections of every newscast will be broadcast in one of the city’s many languages and are subtitled into English and The entire program will be available subtitled in 44 different languages on SCATV’s website. Disclosure: The Journal will appear on a brief segment every episode to discuss the news and I’ve co-taught at Tufts with News Director and former SCAT executive director Jane Regan.

The debut of this biweekly half-hour program, with reporters and anchors from the community and from SCATV staff, takes a look at the upcoming elections for the Board of Aldermen, at the Assembly Square development and local hiring, at the Fluff Festival, the Trust Act, and other issues. Every newscast will end with an interview with Rep. Denise Provost will being the program’s first guest.

All residents are invited to watch, to send in comments, and to come into SCATV in order to get involved in the program. To contact the news team with story tips, comments and information, write to news@scatvsomerville.org.